Hirving Lozano

Hirving Lozano    21    Midfielder    Pachuca    Mexico

Skinny

When watching Hirving Lozano a year ago we mused that he could become the real deal, and a significant player for both club and country. 12 months later and we’re convinced – as is the rest of the footballing world.

Lozano is an exciting young player and one of a talented group currently embedding themselves in El Tricolor’s senior squad. Strong on his right foot, he is at his best cutting in from the left though he can play across the forward positions. 2016 has seen him look more and more adept away from the left wing though, which is encouraging.

When he gets the ball Hirving likes to run at defenders. His dribbling skills are impressive and it helps that he has a few tricks up his sleeves for the occasions when he is shepherded down a seemingly dead alleyway.

Having been a star throughout youth football, the last 12 months have helped to reaffirm that he will be able to make it stick in the senior game. He’s not been brilliantly consistent but he has gone missing in fewer games than 2015.

2016 has been…

In short; really, really good.

Pachuca won the Liga MX Clausura and Lozano was a regular performer in that success. He has followed up 12 league goals across the season with another seven in the first half of 2016/17, and he’ll no doubt be targeting at least 15 for the season. We could certainly live without the handful of yellow cards and the average of one red card each year, but no-one is perfect.

The expected step up at international level also arrived and Lozano is already a regular. He debuted in February and been a regular ever since – with some thanks no doubt being dished out to a couple of convenient injuries that kept him in the team for the Copa America and Olympics. 12 caps inside 10 months are not to be sniffed at.

What’s next?

He’s getting there. We wanted to see a few more goals from Hirving and a better quality of chance being created, and the steps he has made on both fronts are in the right direction. His end product could with another little boost, though there is little to suggest he is already as good as he will ever be. There is still potential to be fulfilled.

As for where he calls home, that is anyone’s guess. Given the amount of column inches that were dedicated to him during the recent summer, we were surprised that he ultimately started 2016/17 where he had finished 2015/16. Every club worth their salt is apparently monitoring his progress, but until he grabs Liga MX by the scruff of the neck he’ll remain on their radars and no more.

Everything in his play suggests he can handle a step above the league he currently plays in, but taking him away from Mexico now would be a risk. He needs to improve his all-round attacking play and work on his defensive discipline. Do it and he’ll be fine.

C+    Had a strong year, and a step beyond Mexico beckons